Support

We can help advise or refer you to assistance for your business development.

We can assist with everything from setting up introductions with potential investors to finding premises and negotiating leases or securing permits and consents. Porirua City is a hub of business growth and innovation. We have more self-employed people as a percentage of population than in the whole of New Zealand!

Start up support

Come and have a coffee with one of our business advisors and talk through your needs for starting your business – from assessing feasibility to registering a domain name, to the pros and cons of where to locate or how to find other small business support.

Growing your business

Businesses need to grow and progress in order to stay relevant and profitable. The Porirua City Growth team can help you navigate any business hurdles and we work closely with many other organisations to ensure that, collectively, we are able to best help your business. We can connect you with specialist advisors, potential investors,government assistance ... or connect you with a business mentor to guide you through your business growth phase.

Relocating your business to Porirua

Relocating your business to Porirua can provide you with the space and resources you need to grow. Porirua has a strong growing local economy, availability of skilled and non skilled staff and a thriving business sector. The City can offer a range of affordable commercial property available for lease or purchase, as well as land ideal for those that require a purpose built facility.

Our central location with the ease of access Transmission Gully will provide to the wider region and elsewhere offers fantastic opportunities for businesses.

We will provide you with case management through the process including securing the necessary consents.

Business Façade Programme

Readers
might not judge a book by its cover but customers certainly judge a business by
its shop front!

If
your business’ façade is looking a little worse for wear – perhaps the paint is
flaking, plaster is falling off, or you have no signage – you may be missing
out on customers.

Don’t
underestimate the power of appearance. Studies have shown 70% of businesses
that make building façade improvements report a boost in sales afterwards.

Inspiration and a cash injection

Little
improvements can go a long way, which is why Porirua City Council and Porirua
Chamber of Commerce have set up the Porirua City Centre Building Façade
Programme.

We
have five $1000 grants available to Porirua City businesses to put towards
painting, plastering, and signage.

How can I get a grant?

If
you are a business with fewer than 25 employees, based on a ground floor
commercial property in Porirua City’s centre (Cobham
Court, Hartham Place North, Hartham Place South, Serlby Place, Lydney Place
South, Kikerran Place or Hagley Street), you may be eligible to apply for a
grant.

It’s a fairly easy process – simply
apply online including details of what needs to be
done and who would complete the work (they need to be a qualified contractor).
Our Business Façade Design Review Panel will then review the application and
set up a meeting with you to discuss your proposal further.

What
can I use the grant for?

The grant covers signage, plastering
and painting of storefronts – more significant works such as
improvements to windows, doors, lighting. are not included as they can
affect with building compliance.

If your grant is approved you’ll then
have six months to complete the improvements. The Business Façade Design Review
Panel will work with you to select the best contractor for the job – this is to
ensure the highest quality outcome for your business (and Porirua City). We
will organise to pay the approved contractor completing the work directly.

Improving
the look of our city centre

The
Porirua City Centre Building Façade Programme is part of our wider city
revitalisation project. Check out our progress.